You probably know about Nail Yakupov, Alex Galchenyuk and Mikhail Grigorenko. They're high first-round picks from way back when (the 2012 NHL draft) who will get their chance to make the big club over the next few days. You've also probably heard of Justin Schultz, Ryan Strome, Mikael Granlund and Dougie Hamilton. They're recent blue-chip prospects themselves who are likely to start the season in the NHL—and, in Schultz's case, as a leading Calder Trophy candidate for the Edmonton Oilers.

There are other rookies worth watching across North America in truncated training camps who have already opened some eyes. A primer on under-the-radar prospects who could bring some fresh legs to the 48-game season.

Use arrow keys to navigate

1

of 6

Beau Bennett, Penguins

Bennett, a first-round pick in 2011, was AHL Wilkes-Barre Scranton's leading scorer before the Penguins brought him to camp. He brings something the Penguins' system doesn't have in abundance: top-six skill.

By Tuesday, he was working out on a line with Evgeni Malkin. It's no guarantee that he'll be there on Saturday in Philadelphia, but it signifies, if nothing else, that he's close to earning a top-six spot over players like Tyler Kennedy and Eric Tangradi.

Bennett's issue will be adapting his game to the Penguins' system, which has caused problems for skill players in the past,

“They‘ve made it pretty clear to me that Pittsburgh Penguins hockey is all about north and south,” Bennett told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review last week. “That‘s been a change for me a little bit, but I‘m getting used to it, and I have a pretty good idea of what they want out of me."

2

of 6

Scott Laughton, Flyers

Laughton, 18, failed to make Canada's World Junior team after the Flyers took him in the first round, but his two-way play and fresh legs—he played throughout the lockout for OHL Oshawa—give him every opportunity to make the club in a bottom-six role. Plus, he's cheap—always a plus for the cap-conscious Flyers. Think Sean Couturier.

GM Paul Holmgren sounded more than open to the possibility. Laughton had 33 points in 32 games with Oshawa and was nasty enough to earn a 10-game suspension for a hit to the head. It was dirty, but the Flyers couldn't have minded much.

"He brings an element of toughness to his game," Holmgren said. He's really good on faceoffs. I think this week is good for him, and we'll see where it goes."

3

of 6

Boone Jenner, Blue Jackets

Jenner is in a similar position with Laughton, though his team is markedly worse. The 2011 second-rounder has played all season in the OHL and in the WJC, despite a three-game suspension for an illegal hit.

He's a physical forward and was one of the OHL's leading scorers before leaving for the tournament. Columbus, meanwhile, needs whatever it can get.

"I would have been ready for a camp in September," Jenner told Yahoo! Sports' Buzzing The Net. "Throughout the year, you always have it in the back of your mind that they (the NHL) might start up at any time. It's good to have it, finally ... Having 3-4 months of OHL hockey under your belt helps ... your game is a little farther along than it is coming off the summer when you haven't played much."

4

of 6

Damien Brunner, Red Wings

Brunner is probably the biggest lock to make an impact on this list. He's 26 and dominated the Swiss League (25 goals, 32 assists) alongside Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg. Not a bad way to open some eyes before camp begins. He's already working with the team's top power-play unit and could wind up on a line with Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

“It worked out as good for him as it possibly could have because he was leading the (Swiss) league in scoring again, and Z comes over, he develops a friendship, a confidence to play with real good players. Now he's just got to keep doing the same thing. So we're excited about having him," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told MLive.com.

5

of 6

Sven Baertschi, Flames

Baerstchi, a 2011 first-rounder, made an NHL cameo at the end of last season. Now 20, he's in line for a lot more than three goals in five games—and has a prime locker-room spot next to captain Jarome Iginla.

“Last year was a great experience for me. I had a free mind. I was just playing. That’s why I think it went so well," Baertschi told the Calgary Herald. "I can’t promise anything but I’m gonna work as hard as I can during camp, and I’m going to work as hard as I can when the games come up."

If he does what he needs to do, he'll bring skill to a lacking crop of forwards. Baertschi had 33 and 34 goals in his last two junior seasons and 18 points in 21 AHL games.

“Obviously,” defenseman Mark Giordano said, “his strengths are playing with confidence and he’s a guy who’s going to produce offensively. But he does a lot of little things right. Noticing just the few times we played with him last year, along the walls and making good plays even from the D zone.

“For our organization and for him it’s a matter of getting him into games of this speed and making him feel comfortable.

6

of 6

Vladimir Tarasenko

The 2010 first-round matured into a star in the KHL, scoring 14 times in 31 games, and now he's in St. Louis, where finding the net was an issue last season despite a second-place finish in the Western Conference.

He had his first Blues practice on Sunday, and his teammates are trying to make the transition easy for him. Sort of.

"I'm going to remember this when Vladi is making $10 million a year and I'm out of the league ... when I'm old and he's an All-Star," Blues defenseman Ian Cole told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm going to remember when Vladi went and got me a Gatorade."